I'm not a Bible scholar, but I was curious what type of interpretation I could find by using different translations of the Greek from Strong's Dictionaries.
If you're interested in seeing the alternate translations, read on!
DISCLAIMER: I am not suggesting these alternate versions are correct, or more accurate, than the originals. Don't bother bashing me with Bibles, if that's your impetus, because you're wasting time.
The First Horseman - Revelation 6:2
KJV: "And I saw, and behold a white horse: and he that sat on him had a bow; and a crown was given unto him: and he went forth conquering, and to conquer."
Alternate translation: "And I perceived a horse of light: he that rode the horse held a bow; and he honored himself: and he went forth victorious, because he will prevail."
The horse of light / white horse is minor, but it brings a different perspective. According to Scriptures, Lucifer can appear as angel of light. Is this an indication of his presence? Note that a crown was given / he honored himself--both signs of someone who raises himself up above others. Also, he has a bow but no arrows; this is possibly a sign of a diplomatic person using subtler means to subdue rivals. Does he know that he'll win or think he will?
The Second Horseman - Revelation 6:4
KJV: "And there went out another horse that was red: and power was given to him that sat thereon to take peace from the earth, and that they should kill one another: and there was given unto him a great sword."
Alternate version: "Also there came forth a different horse like fire: and he that rode the horse had power to remove prosperity from the land, and cause people to slaughter themselves: so he brought forth a terrifying war."
A red horse and a horse like fire are different views, but what does it mean? Taking peace / removing prosperity are similar but point to different areas of focus. The verses following clearly show great bloodshed from a terrible war, which is clearly loss of peace, so the mention of prosperity is something to consider as it happens before the slaughtering.
The Third Horseman - Revelation 6:5-6
KJV: "And when he had opened the third seal, I heard the third beast say, Come and see. And I beheld, and lo a black horse; and he that sat on him had a pair of balances in his hand. And I heard a voice in the midst of the four beasts say, A measure of wheat for a penny, and three measures of barley for a penny; and see thou hurt not the oil and the wine."
Alternate version: "And I was aware of a black horse; and he that rode the black horse held the power to enslave. And I heard a voice among the four creatures say, "A day's pay for bread, a day's pay for barley; but be fair with oil and wine."
The black horse carries a pair of balances (a scale) in the original, which also denotes a yoke or servitude. Given the movement towards less freedom in today's world, this is something to think about. As the proceeding verses clearly demonstrate financial trouble, it seemed sensible to suggest a bit different reason with the scales. Forcing people into a slave-system (mark of the beast?) brings rationing and other social controls.
The Fourth Horseman - Revelation 6:8
KJV: "And I looked, and behold a pale horse: and his name that sat on him was Death, and Hell followed with him. And power was given unto them over the fourth part of the earth, to kill with sword, and with hunger, and with death, and with the beasts of the earth."
Alternate version: "And I perceived a sickly horse: and the rider had the authority of death, and the grave came with him. Their power spread to a fourth of the world, to kill through war, and with starvation, and with disease, and by beasts of the earth."
The original and alternate are pretty close here. Pale can mean greenish or dun-colored, which is quite different than a basic idea of pale. Also, death and hell in the original are capitalized but the underlying words mean several different things.
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